Nursing ADN to MS in Nursing

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The School of Nursing offers a program for students with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) looking to complete their Bachelor’s of Science (BS) in Nursing or Master’s of Science (MS) in Nursing. The ADN-MSN program includes a 32-credit BS in Nursing “completion” program that integrates 12 credits of MS in Nursing coursework. Earning credits that satisfy both the BS and MS in Nursing degree requirements allows students a seamless and accelerated pathway to earning one of six MS in Nursing degree concentrations (Administration, Education, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Gerontology, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, or Family Nurse Practitioner) by completing an additional 18-36 credits.

Prerequisites for Admission

Applicants seeking admission to School of Nursing ADN-MSN program must meet the following requirements:*

• Earned ADN from a nursing program accredited by a national nursing accreditation body with a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.25 on a 4.0 scale for regular admission status.*
• Hold current, unencumbered licensure as a Registered Nurse.**
• Hold current CPR certification.

*Students enrolled in their final semester of an ADN program meeting academic requirements may also apply for admission.

**Students recently completing or enrolled in their final semester of an ADN program who have yet to sit for their licensing exam may also apply for admission; an unencumbered Registered Nurse license is required prior to beginning NRS 460/461 courses.

Policies for Admission

Students apply for full admission to the School of Nursing’s ADN-MSN program at any time after the completion of their ADN degree (or during the final semester of their ADN program) by submitting the following materials:

• Completed applications through Graduate and Professional Studies at https://www.edgewood.edu/apply/graduate.
• Students must submit ALL official transcripts from any post-secondary institutions directly to Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions directly.

The School of Nursing Admission Committee will review student records after applications are received. The Committee will admit the most qualified students based on meeting program prerequisites and strength of academic record and professional experience.

All students who are admitted to the ADN-MSN program must complete a Certified Background Check and meet health requirements prior to beginning nursing courses.

Admission to the ADN-MSN program is competitive; even students who meet the minimum requirements may not be admitted. Because of enrollment limits in the major, the School of Nursing may deny admission to qualified students.

Admission Cycle

Students are admitted to the ADN-MSN program in Fall semester. Students anticipating admission to the ADN-MSN program for the fall semester must complete their application no later than August 1. Candidates for admission are required to submit applications through Graduate and Professional Studies at https://www.edgewood.edu/apply/graduate. Students must submit all official transcripts and reference information to Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions directly.

Progression in the ADN-MSN Program

In order to progress in the ADN-BS in Nursing portion of the ADN-MSN program, students must maintain an academic cumulative GPA of 2.5 as well as a GPA of 2.5 in all nursing courses. A grade of “C” or better is required in each nursing theory course and a grade of “Pass” in each clinical course is also required for progression.

Students seeking to continue the program toward an MS in Nursing concentration must maintain an academic cumulative GPA of 3.0 as well as a GPA of 3.0 in all nursing courses. A grade of “C” or better is required in each nursing theory course and a grade of “Pass” in each clinical course is required for progression. If these requirements are not met, the student is not eligible to progress in the ADN-MSN program.

Current CPR/AED certification, first aid certification, physical exam, and health data are required before entering any clinical course. Students are responsible for their own transportation to clinical sites. See the Nursing Student Handbook for specific health requirements.

The School of Nursing and all clinical agencies under contract to the School require that every student and faculty member have a background check completed by the Criminal Justice Department of Wisconsin. Background Information Disclosure forms must be completed by students before entry into the ADN-MSN program. Students are responsible for notifying the School of Nursing of any criminal charges or convictions that occur while they are progressing through the ADN-MS in Nursing program. Students who have been convicted of certain types of offenses may not be able to participate in clinical placements and therefore will not be eligible to earn a degree in nursing. It is also possible that a student may not be eligible for licensure by the State of Wisconsin or another state licensing authority if certain types of criminal offenses are identified in the background check.

Random alcohol and drug checks may be done in clinical agencies at the discretion of the faculty members throughout the duration of a student’s clinical experiences.

Policies for Repeating Courses

In accordance with College policy, a student may choose to repeat a course taken at Edgewood College to improve a poor or failing grade. Most courses cannot be repeated for additional credit. Only the most recent attempt at the course will be included in the GPA calculation, even if the most recent attempt at a course results in a lower grade. The credits for a course are earned only once, provided at least one of the attempts results in a passing grade. All repeated courses and their grades will appear on the transcript in the terms they were taken and repeated courses will be notes as “R” (Repeated).

In accordance with College policy, if a student repeats a course at Edgewood College that was previously accepted for credit at the time of transfer, the transferred credits are removed from the student’s record. The repeated course grade is used to compute the GPA for the Traditional BS program. A course required for the Traditional BS program may be repeated only once for GPA calculation in the nursing GPA.

Individuals may appeal to the School of Nursing any decisions affecting their progression in the ADN-MSN program.

Goals for the Nursing Major

Upon completion of the program, graduates will:

• Integrate the liberal arts into the practice of nursing.
• Apply skills in leadership, quality improvement, and patient safety to provide high quality health care in a systems environment.
• Translate current evidence into the practice of nursing.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills in information management and patient care technology.
• Integrate knowledge of health care policies, including financial and regulatory influences, on the health care system as they relate to quality care.
• Perform communication and collaboration skills consistent with professional standards when working in inter-professional settings to improve health services.
• Assimilate health promotion and disease prevention strategies at the individual and population level.
• Integrate professional standards or moral, ethical, and legal conduct in nursing practice.
• Formulate a personal professional practice model that addresses accountability, continuous professional engagement, and lifelong learning.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the care of patients, including individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations across the lifespan and across the continuum of health care environments.